Creamy Pasta Tuna Casserole Recipe Elevates The Classic You Remember by 30Seconds Food

This isn't your grandma's tuna casserole recipe! (Not that we don't love anything grandma cooks.) This updated tuna casserole recipe is cheesy, creamy and loaded with different flavors and textures.

The secret to this delicious tuna casserole is the homemade cheese sauce. The sauce is made with butter, flour, garlic, milk, ground mustard, white cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese. Penne pasta, albacore tuna, peas and corn are mixed with this incredibly tasty cheese sauce before being poured into a casserole dish or ovenproof skillet. The top is sprinkled with more cheese and a little panko (the panko is optional). Bake until hot and melty and serve. So easy.

Serve this tuna casserole with a fresh garden salad and hot, crusty bread for a complete dinner. 

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Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 

Ingredients

• 8 ounces penne (or your favorite short pasta), cooked to al dente according to package directions
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1 cup grated white cheddar cheese (divided)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 
• 10 ounces (2 cans) albacore tuna, well drained
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 cup frozen corn
• panko breadcrumbs, for topping (optional)

Helpful Products

• Soup Pot
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Salt and Pepper
• Baking Dishes
• Can Opener
• Rubber Spatula
• Grater
• Nonstick Cooking Spray
• Airtight Containers
• 13x9-inch Baking Pan
• Pasta Pot
• Pasta Bowls
• Pepper Grinder
• Dutch Oven
• Colander

Recipe Notes

• Keep in mind that the pasta will continue to cook in the oven, so only cook it to al dente. We don't want mushy pasta! 

• If you don't have penne, you could use rigatoni, fusilli, bowties or any short pasta. 

• You could also use other vegetables in this tuna casserole like broccoli florets, green beans or even carrots.

Here's how to make it: 

1. In a large pot, melt the butter. Add the flour and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook until smooth and slightly thickened. Add the ground mustard and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Add the 3/4 cup of the white cheddar and the Parmesan. Stir until melted. 
2. Add the pasta, tuna, peas and corn. Stir until combined. Pour the mixture into a baking dish. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese and sprinkle with panko, if using. 
3. Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for about 20 minutes. 

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Calories: 754

Total Fat: 19g

Saturated Fat: 10.1g

Cholesterol: 76mg

Sodium: 374mg

Total Carbohydrate: 95.2g

Dietary Fiber: 7.7g

Total Sugars: 7g

Protein: 49.4g

Vitamin D: 20mcg

Calcium: 281mg

Iron: 6mg

Potassium: 450mg

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by VeryWellFit. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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